Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 90 Choose The Way of Truth And Avoid The Path of Lying

Psalm 119:25-29  DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. 26)  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. 27)  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 28)  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 29)  Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. 

Choose the way of truth and avoid heartache. 

Psalm 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. 

In our last post, we began looking at what it means to choose the way of truth. This simple principle is profound in its implications. 

It is just a fact of life that there are many crooked paths in the world today, all claiming to be right, all claiming to have truth on their side.

However, out of all potential paths we may choose, the one that should most concern each believer in Christ is the path of truth. 

God has so ordered things, that there have been from the beginning, controversies about the way of truth and the right worship of God. Satan presented a perversion of truth to Eve and seduced her into sinning. 

Most people walk in the wrong way following false gods. 

Micah 4:5  For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. 

The prophet Micah made this issue very clear. Most people in the world are going to walk on the way of error, but he was determined that he and his people would walk in the way of truth and worship Jehovah only. 

Micah tells us that there are people who follow "his god" but there is only One, True God of heaven and earth and Jehovah is His name. 

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Many Christians are following wrong ways. 

The world is full of false ways to God. Consider the Pew Research. They polled professing Christians and found that 65% believe that many religions other that the Christian faith, lead to heaven. 

Does the Bible say that all religions lead to God? 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus made it clear that faith in Him is the only way to the Father. He alone is the way to heaven. No man can come to the Father any other way, except through repentant faith in Christ. 

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52% of professing believers say that all people are basically good. 

Does the Bible say that all men are basically good? 

Romans 3:10-12  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11)  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12)  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

A multitude of texts could be given to illustrate this truth. Paul makes it clear that no one is righteous, no one is seeking after God and there are none that do good. 

All mankind are born sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Thus, we need a Savior and that Savior is Jesus Christ. 

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51% of professing believers think that God accepts worship from all religions. 

Does the Bible say that God accepts worship from all religions?

Exodus 34:13,14  But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14)  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 

Here is the will of God given to the Hebrews that they were to do as they entered the promised land. They were to destroy the altars, images and groves used by idolaters. 

Why such a rigid position? Because they were commanded to worship Jehovah and none other. 

Deuteronomy 8:19,20  And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. 20)  As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. 

God warned the Hebrew people what would happen if they fell into the sin of idolatry. They would perish because of they disobeying and following other gods. 

Psalm 81:9  There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

This text is very clear. The people of God were to separate themselves from any strange god, and they were never to worship any idol. 

I have shown you some of the many aberrant views describing what many professing Christians say that they believe. I simply juxtaposed these wrong views together with what the way of truth, God's word says. 

This type of wrong thinking has invaded the church in America and this is exactly why the Psalmist is teaching us about choosing the way of God's truth. Choosing the way of truth keeps us on the path that honors God and His Word. 

God can use heretical teaching to demonstrate whose faith is genuine. 

1 Corinthians 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 

God has a purpose for heresies. False teaching may be a test or trial to distinguish between believers who are grounded and settled in their faith, and believers who are vacillating in their faith. 

Jesus taught that the last days will see few that believe.

Luke 18:7-8  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8)  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Jesus used a parable to teach about us praying consistently and not fainting or being discouraged while we pray. In contrast to the unjust judge, the righteous Father will one day avenge His people. 

Even so, Jesus raised the question as to whether or not the Son of Man (Christ) would find faith on earth when He returns. Why? Because many are content to exist in their state of unbelief. 

Many who profess to know Christ are believing wrong things because they have not chosen the way of truth. 

Those who reject the way of truth will readily believe a lie.  

2 Thessalonians 2:11,12  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12)  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

God will send a strong delusion, so powerful that those who reject Jesus Christ and refuse to submit to the gospel, will believe a lie. They rejected the way of truth, therefore, God will give them what they demanded. They will choose the way of lying and be eternally damned. 

False prophets will lead many astray. 

Deuteronomy 13:1-3  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2)  And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3)  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 

False prophets and false teachers will arise who claim to have a dream from God or who work some type of sign. If they say we should follow other gods, we must reject them and choose the way of truth. 

Jehovah can use a false teacher or one who claims to work a miracle, to prove whether our faith is genuine or counterfeit. Those who make a false profession of faith in Christ will be seduced to follow other gods. Those who choose the way of truth are those who are genuine believers in Christ. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Due to the current state of the church, where many professing Christians believe wrong things about God, the decision to choose the way of truth is more important than ever.

We cannot be truth tellers if we do not choose the way of truth. We cannot be those who share the truth in love if we do not choose the way of truth. 

Those who ultimately reject the way of truth will one day believe a strong delusion, a lie. 

May we be those who have our hearts and heads anchored to the word of truth. May we be those who will choose the way of truth and the path of blessing. May we be those who point others to Jesus Christ, the One True God and Savior of mankind.

Bob